CLEVELEY, John the Elder
(b. ca. 1712, Southwark, d. 1777, Southwark)

Action off Cape François, 21 October 1757

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Oil on canvas, 33 x 49 cm
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

It has been suggested that this painting shows a confrontation of French and English ships off the north coast of Haiti in 1757. On 21 October 1757 three ships of the line under the command of Captain Forrest successfully attempted to intercept a French convoy bound for Europe at Cape François despite a disparity of force.